DC Public Schools to Open with Two Hour Delay, DC Government to Open On Time

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

DC Government’s Activation of Cold Emergency Plan to Continue

(WASHINGTON, DC) – On Wednesday, March 15 DC Public Schools (DCPS) will open with a two hour delay, and DC Government will open on time. In addition, regularly scheduled after care and after school activities will occur at all DCPS schools. For updates on delays and closures at DC Public Charter Schools, families can track the DC Public Charter School Board’s inclement weather page at http://www.dcpcsb.org/inclement-weather-updates.

On Wednesday, the Department of Public Works (DPW) will resume scheduled bulk trash pickup, but street sweeping will remain suspended. Property owners – residential and commercial – are reminded that they are required to remove snow from their sidewalks within the first 8 hours of daylight after a storm ends, otherwise they may be subject to enforcement actions. Residents who are homeowners, age 65 or older and/or living with a disability may be eligible for an exemption from this requirement. For further information about the exemption process and to receive an application, call 311. On Wednesday, DPW’s Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP) officers will begin enforcing the sidewalk shoveling regulation and prioritize corridors with higher pedestrian traffic.

Pedestrians and motorists should continue to use caution when travelling on Wednesday, as refreezing may occur overnight. For updates on WMATA’s bus and Metrorail service, visit http://www.wmata.com/ or follow @WMATA on Twitter.

In addition, the Department of Human Services (DHS), in collaboration with the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), will continue the activation of the city's Cold Emergency Plan. Under a “Cold Emergency Alert” additional services and supports are provided to protect residents from life-threatening illness and injury associated with severe cold weather.

The DC Government activates the Cold Emergency Plan when the temperature and wind chill drop to 15° F or when the temperature, with wind chill, is 20° F and there is an accompanying meteorological event such as snow. DHS, HSEMA, and other agencies have determined that the weather, as forecasted, presents a danger, especially to residents who are experiencing homelessness.

Key services provided during Cold Emergency Alerts include:

Access to Emergency Shelter—Low-barrier, Hypothermia, and Overflow Emergency Shelters are open during Hypothermia and Cold Alerts.

Access to Overnight Warming Sites—In order to provide access to a warm and safe facility, designated public buildings, such as recreation centers, may open during the day or overnight. In cases where residents choose not to use the traditional low-barrier or hypothermia emergency shelters, these warming sites offer a warm and safe place to spend the night. Individuals may access these sites on their own or by contacting the Shelter Hotline for transportation. Overnight Warming Sites operate from 7 pm to 7 am Some sites may open later than 7 pm based on regularly scheduled business operations.

Transportation to Warmth and Safety—Free transportation to an emergency shelter or warming site is provided to anyone experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC during a Cold Emergency Alert. To request transportation to shelter for persons in DC who are experiencing homelessness, contact the toll-free Shelter Hotline: (202) 399-7093 or 311. Include the time, the address or location of the sighting, and a description of the person’s appearance.

Families seeking emergency shelter can also visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center at 920 Rhode Island Avenue, NE, from Monday to Thursday between 8 am and 4:30 pm Families can also call the DC Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 311 at any time day or night.

The following are low barrier and alert night emergency shelters and warming site locations:

For more information about DC’s snow program, go to snow.dc.gov. Residents should follow the social media accounts listed below to stay informed about weather conditions and how District services are affected.